The Clontarf, an immigration clipper ship, sailed from England to New Zealand between 1858 and 1860 on commission for the Canterbury Provincial Council, the governing body of Canterbury Province.
Sailing under the flag of Willis, Gann and Co, it set out on its first voyage from Plymouth on 20 September 1858, and after a journey of 105 days arrived at Lyttelton, New Zealand on 5 January 1859 with 412 immigrants.
[1] With one successful run complete it returned to England to collect its next passengers.
This voyage met with unforgiving bad weather, and a rampant plague of measles, whooping cough and tropical diseases swept mercilessly through the ship.
On a normal voyage for immigration ship of that time it was expected that up to five people might die from frailty, accident or birth at sea.